Air supported structures for fenced areas

ABSTRACT

Methods and apparatus are provided for enclosing existing outdoor areas defined by a fence, wall or the like by the utilization of an air supported covering, the base of which is supported by the existing fence or wall, in a manner eliminating the need for additional space outside the existing fenced or walled area, and in a manner providing a substantial increase in usable space within the defined area over previous such structures. In addition, an arrangement is provided for simultaneously utilizing the base support for the air supported structure for a lighting arrangement for the defined space.

United States Patent 1 Jones 145] Jan. 16, 1973 [54] AIR SUPPORTED STRUCTURES FOR FENCED AREAS Filed: July 21,1971

[ Appl.No.: 164,644

[52] US. Cl ..52/2, 52/63 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04b l/345 [58] Field of Search ..4/l72, 172.11, 172.19; 52/2, 52/63 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,355,745 12/1967 Jannuzzi ..52/63 3,561,174 2/1971 Schneidler ..52/2 3,250,024 5/1966 Douthitt et a1. ..52/2 3 ,548,904 12/1970 Mackell .52/2 3,389,510 6/1968 Stock ...52/2 3,557,515 1/1971 MacCracken ..52/2

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 709,532 8/1931 France ..52/2

Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner-Leslie A. Braun Att0rneyl-lubert T. Mandeville et al.

57 ABSTRACT Methods and apparatus are provided for enclosing existing outdoor areas defined by a fence, wall or the like by the utilization of an air supported covering, the

base of which is supported by the existing fence or 7 Claims, 5 Drawing, Figures PAIENTEDJAH 161973 3.710.519

sum 1 0F 3 INVENTOR WOODFORD F. JONES FIG. 1

AT TORN Pmmimms I975 3.710.519

SHEET 2 UF 3 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. WOODFORID F. JONES (Mex ATTORNE S AIR SUPPORTED STRUCTURES FOR FENCED AREAS Generally speaking, this invention relates to methods and an arrangement of apparatus for providing an air supported structure or covering over an area to be protected from the elements. More particularly, this invention relates to such structures for use in protecting outdoor facilities such as recreational areas, so that those areas may be protected from the elements and usable in those geographical areas where such activities could not normally be carried on during, for example,'the winter months when such activities would be limited by cold and inclement weather.

Even more particularly, this invention relates to methods and an arrangement of apparatus in which an already existing recreational area defined by an existing fence or wall may be covered and enclosed utilizing the existing fence or wall in a manner whereby no further ground area need be taken up for the construction of the protective covering, and in a manner whereby the area defined by the existing fence is maintained substantially in tact. With such an arrangement, the usable area for the activities involved is not substantially reduced in order to obtain a protective covering and total enclosure so that those activities may be carried out on an all-season basis. in addition, the arrangement, in accordance herewith, includes a supporting base frame or structure for the air supported covering, which frame may be utilized simultaneously for the wiring and support for lighting such areas during nighttime hours.

As is well known, with the ever increasing growth of population, existing recreational areas such as tennis courts, swimming pools and the like, must be used to capacity in order for the population to be able to take advantage of such facilities. Particularly in large metropolitan areas, there is a paucity of space provided for such recreational areas. Thus, in the past few years, there have been many developments provided for converting such existing recreational areas to a substantially indoor environment so as to make them usable, not only during winter months, but also during evening hours by the construction of some sort of covering over the existing area together with the installation of lighting arrangements.

One particularly appropriate development in the past few years has been the air supported roof or air bubble arrangement for protecting these existing recreational areas. Air bubbles are particularly appropriate because they are commercially attractive in that the cost of erecting them is substantially less than would be the case if a permanent, conventionally supported building were constructed. in addition, such arrangements are appropriate for recreational areas such as swimming pools and tennis courts, because the air bubble can be constructed of a translucent material in order to admit daylight during the day. ln addition, air bubble arrangements are appropriate in that they may be easily dismantled during the summer months so that the original existing area may be utilized in its original desired manner as an outdoor activity area.

As is well-known further, these air bubble arrangements present certain difficulties in use. For example, the usual air bubble arrangement has a sloped portion which joins with the ceiling portion of the air bubble in bubble base is to extend outside the defined area. This may present certain difficulties, particularly in congested metropolitan areas in that there is not additional existing space available.

On the other hand, if the base support of the air bubble is disposed within the defined area, the curvature of the vertical portion of the air bubble is such that the existing defined area is substantially cut down for the activities contemplated therefor. This is particularly difficult in those cases where the activity involves the use of flying objects such as a tennis ball. Indeed, the usual space in the defined area may be cut down so far as to make the use of an air bubble: arrangement inappropriate for the existing area.

Certain additional difficulties may arise, on the other hand, if the base structure of the air bubble is made to extend outside the existing fenced area, because of the nature of the material utilized for the air bubble itself. As is well understood, the usual plastic materials utilized for an air bubble arrangement can be relatively easily punctured either by vandals: or through some accident. When the supporting base structure of the air bubble is without the existing fenced area, the base structure of the air bubble is exposed to such punctures, thus creating the problem where the punctures may be severe enough for the collapse of the air bubble. Obviously, even if such an extreme situation does not arise, the simple matter of continuously repairing such punctures can make the air bubble inappropriate in certain areas.

Thus, the problem arises where, in order to utilize existing recreational facilities on a year-round basis in geographical areas where the weather can prohibit the use of those facilities during the winter months, the economically appropriate construction of an air bubble covering for those areas may not be appropriate ultimately, merely because the air bubble supporting structure and the air bubble itself may take up so much space as to make them useless for existing areas, or they may reduce the usable area of the existing defined recreational area to the extent where that area is no longer appropriate for the use for which it was originally designed. in addition, the maintenance problems which arise from the exposure of the lower portions of the air bubble to punctures from vandalism and accidents may make the use of the previously taught structures economically inappropriate in certain areas.

By contrast, and quite unexpectedly, it has now been found in accordance with this invention, that the advantage of utilizing an air supported structure such as an air bubble for existing facilities can be carried out in a manner whereby no additional space outside the defined area must be utilized for the base support for the air bubble, and the space taken over for the air bubble within the defined area is substantially reduced to the point where it no longer becomes a problem. in addition, the usual problems of punctures from vandalism or accidents is minimized.

The applicant herein have achieved this by utilizing the existing fence or wall structure defining the recreational area involved as the lowermost base structure for an air supported roof or bubble, so that the beginning or lowermost portion of the vertical extent of the bubble is raised from the ground level of the area being covered to the height of the vertical extent of the existing fence or wall which may be some 8 to 12 feet above the surface of the area being covered. This is brought about by disposing along the top of the fence or wall in spaced-apart relation therealong, a plurality of supporting arms which are cantilevered from the top of the existing wall or fence away from the plane of the vertical fence or wall towards the existing area. These cantilevered supporting arms may be approximately 1-5 feet in length, depending upon the nature of the existing facilities. Thereafter, a circumferentially extending tension ring is disposed on the uppermost point of these cantilevered supporting arms for providing the circumferential base support for the lowermost extent of the air bubble. A skirt is disposed on this tensioning ring along the entire circumference thereof, to extend from the uppermost extent of the cantilevered supporting arms down to the ground or floor of the area being covered. This skirt may be of a continuous material extending in a substantially continuous manner around the entire circumference of the area involved and are, of course, composed of an air impervious material. Obviously, the uppermost extent of the skirt is in air sealing engagement with the lowermost point of the air bubble at the tensioning ring which extends circumferentially around the entire extent of the recreational area.

With such an arrangement, as will be apparent, the air bubble itself is raised from the ground to an extent so that its exposure to vandalism or accidents adjacent the ground area where such activities may take place, is substantially reduced.

ln addition, and as will be apparent in accordance herewith, substantially none of the existing defined area is taken up with the supporting structure for the air bubble, thus minimizing the amount of usable area taken up for the air bubble support structure itself. This is so because only that area defined by the two planes defined by the vertical extent of the existing fence or wall, and a vertical plane passing through the axis of the circumferentially arranged tensioning ring is the space which may be considered as nonusable space for the particular activity to be carried out in the defined area. Even this area may not be nonusable because the placement of the cantilevered arms from the existing fence structure over to the area where the supporting tensioning ring of the air bubble begins is in a cantilevered manner some 8-12 feet above the ground area. Further, and as will be apparent, the curvature of the air bubble does not even begin until some 9-12 or 13 feet above the ground, so that the curvature thereof, does not interfere with the activities within the defined area.

Also, the tensioning ring utilized as the base support for the air bubble, in accordance herewith, is comprised of hollow pipe, so that this pipe can be used as the raceways for electrical wiring for circumferentially disposed spaced apart light standards along the tension ring. In those instances where the defined area being covered is large enough, or where the defined area may be a plurality of tennis courts, cross-supports may be disposed across the transverse extent of the defined area at certain intervals such as the dividing line between a plurality of tennis courts, so that additional raceways and supports are provided for the electrical wiring and lighting standards for lights centrally located within the defined area.

Accordingly, it is one object of this invention to provide methods and an arrangement of apparatus for enclosing an existing outdoor facility which may be used for recreational, sports or other activities. In addition, it is another object of this invention to provide methods and an arrangement of apparatus for erecting such a protecting structure substantially in the absence of the utilization of any space outside the existing recreational area.

In addition, it is an object of this invention to provide methods and an arrangement of apparatus in which the existing area defined by a fence or wall structure is not reduced in the sense that the structures in accordance herewith do not substantially reduce the usable area defined by the existing fence or wall structure. It is a still further object of this invention to provide methods and an arrangement of apparatus in which the possibility of the air bubble itself being punctured by vandals or by accident is substantially minimized. Additionally, it is an object of this invention to provide simultaneously a supporting structure for the air bubble base which also may be utilized as the raceways and support for light standards for a lighting arrangement for the defined area being covered and protected.

With the foregoing and additional objects in view, this invention will now be described in more detail, and other objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

Before describing this invention in more detail, it may be well to note that the material used for the air bubble may be any well-known composition for such use as long as the material is air impervious and flexible and of sufficient light weight for the pressure differential caused in the usual air bubble to support the expanded material. Generally, these materials include such flexible plastics as polyvinyl chloride, having disposed therein appropriate light and heat stabilizers in order to prevent deterioration of the air bubble material upon exposure to the elements, and appropriate softeners in order to provide the desired flexibility for the material. Another material used in air bubble applications is Nylon coated with polyvinyl chloride film. Generally, it will be desired that the resulting flexible material be translucent in order to provide appropriate natural lighting during the daylight hours. The skirt material depending from the tensioning ring, must also be of an air impervious nature, but it can be comprised of a heavier weight fabric more impervious to damage caused by punctures because of its adjacent disposition to the ground area where activities of individuals in the defined area may cause such punctures. Such materials include heavy-duty canvas coated with a plastic in order to make the canvas material air impervious. Of course, heavy duty high-impact flexible plastics may also be used. The tensioning ring and the cross beam supporting members may be of any material in the form of tubing sections such as steel pipe, and of a diameter allowing for an internal passageway in the pipe to be large enough to provide the raceways for wiring in the arrangements in accordance herewith. Such tubing may be 3 k inch steel tubing, for example, or tubing may be of plastic materials generally utilized in plumbing.

As purely illustrative of methods and arrangements of apparatus which may be used for carrying out this invention, one may note the attached drawings in which the existing area to be covered is a three-court tennis court defined by an existing chain-link fence 8 feet in height, and having the usual pro shop, lockers and showers adjacent thereto for servicing the tennis courts.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a three-court tennis court area with an arrangement of apparatus embodying and for accomplishing this invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 1 and taken along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken through one point in the circumference of the existing area shown in FIG. 1 and showing a detailed arrangement of apparatus embodying and for practicing this invention, including the connections between the existing fence defining the area to be covered with the air bubble;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the usual footing arrangement for the circumference of a tennis court around the periphery thereof, and showing further arrangements of apparatus embodying and for practicing this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a prospective view of the arrangement of FIG. 4.

Referring to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views thereof, an illustrative embodiment of an arrangement of apparatus for practicing this invention is somewhat diagrammatically depicted as a three-court tennis court arrangement generally designated as having three courts 14, 16 and 18, disposed thereon. Disposed around the periphery of the tennis court area 10 is an existing chain-link fence 12, which may be generally of a height of 8-10 feet. Disposed around the periphery of the chain-link fence 12, is a plurality of spaced-apart supporting arms 20, which supporting arms 20 are rigidly affixed to the top of the uprights of chain-link fence 12, as will be described in detail below. The supporting arms 20 are cantilevered from the top of the fence toward the center of the tennis court area 10.

Disposed along the top of the cantilevered supporting arms 20 and generally concentric with the chainlink fence 12, is a continuous tensioning ring 22 which may be comprised of inter-connecting sections of 3 95 inch steel pipe, for example. Disposed on the tensioning ring 22 and at each end of the tennis court area 10, may be a plurality of light standards spaced-apart along the ends of tennis court area and having disposed thereon, a plurality of high intensity lights 30. Extending across the width of tennis court area 10, and at the dividing lines between the three tennis courts 14, 16 and 18 are light supporting cross-members 24 and 26, which are rigidly disposed at the ends thereof on tensioning ring 22 and with these cross-members 24 and 26 being comprised of the same material as tensioning ring 22, namely, a plurality of inter-connected 3 k inch steel pipes.

In the usual manner, a locker room and shower arrangement 11 may be disposed adjacent the tennis court area and connected through an air lock arrangement 13 to the tennis court area. The air lock arrangement may be constructed in the usual manner of a closed vestibule having disposed therein, the usual rotating door arrangement, or vestibule 13 may have two individual doors connecting the locker room 11 to the vestibule 13 and connecting vestibule 13 to tennis court 10, so as to cut down substantially, the amount of air passing through vestibule ll3 when people are passing from one area to the other. Compressed air for supporting the air bubble may be supplied by any conventional source such as blower mechanism 15 having a motor driving a squirrel cage blower, not shown, all in well-known manner.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the tennis court area 10 of FIG. 1 along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and shows the general arrangement of connections between air bubble 32 with the existing chain-link fence structure 12. As can be seen in FIG. 2, cantilevered supporting arms 20 are disposed on fence l2 and extend in a cantilevered fashion inwardly to a connection 22 which is the tensioning ring. Also, depending from the tensioning ring 22 is the air impervious skirt 50, which encloses the area below the air bubble 32 along the existing fence 12. Obviously, the lowermost extent of air bubble 32 and the uppermost extent of the sealing skirt 50 are in sealing engagement with each other at the tensioning ring 22. Also shown in the cross-supporting member 24 having disposed thereon, light standards 38 supporting high intensity lights 28. In the usual manner, center light standards 38 may be taller than the side standards because of the increasing height toward the center portion of air bubble 32 at point 42. Generally, the height of air bubble 32 from the surface 34 of the court area may be within the range from 35-45 feet.

In FIG. 3, the structure for inter-connecting the existing chain-link fence 12 with air bubble 32, is shown. In the usual manner, a chain-link fence 12 will have a plurality of spaced-apart uprights 43. In accordance with this invention, a plurality of supporting arms 20 are each disposed on the uprights 43 in cantilevered fashion, as shown, by the usual bolt connections 44. In accordance with this invention, connections 44 may provide pivotal connection between uprights 43 and supporting arms 20, so that the amount of cantilever of supporting arms 20 may be varied to accommodate the existing area to be covered. interconnecting the individual supporting arms 20 with the connections 44, are a bracket 46 having disposed] thereon, a reducing pipe couple 48 for accommodating the end of the upright 20, which may be a 3 1% inch steel pipe. Disposed on the uppermost point of upright supporting arms 20 are connecting brackets 53 for connecting the upright arms 20 to the circumferentially extending tensioning ring 22.

In those areas along the periphery of the tennis court area 10 where cross-supporting members such as 24 and 26 are shown in FIG. 1, are to be disposed, an additional bracket 58 may be disposed on tensioning ring 22 for accommodating the cross-support 24 or 26, for

example. After erecting the plurality of upright supporting arms 20 and cantilevering them in the appropriate manner according to the particular existing court arrangement, the base periphery of bubble 32 may then be connected to the tensioning ring 22 by any known arrangement such as a lacing structure 52 tied around tensioning ring 22. The uppermost edge of skirt 50 then may be placed in sealing engagement at point 54 with tensioning ring 22 in the usual manner such as by the application of a plastic cement. Thereafter, the lowermost edge of bubble 32 is disposed on top of the upper edge of skirt 50 in air sealing engagement at 54 by the application along the lowermost edge of bubble 32 by any known sealing plastic cement. Thereafter, a continuous metallic or plastic channel clip 56 is disposed against the uppermost end of skirt 50 and the lowermost end of bubble 32 at point 54, by means of bolts, not shown, passing through channel clip 56 and screwed into bores provided along the periphery of tensioning ring 22, all in well known manner.

Referring to FIG. 4, a cross-sectional view of a footing of an area to be covered, such as tennis court area 10, is shown, and indicates the footing 62, which may be of concrete, for the uprights 43 of chain-link fence 12. The footing 62 is disposed within the ground area 60 and along the periphery of a court surface area 34. Disposed along the base of chain-link fence 12, is a plurality of longitudinally extending fence base supports 64 for interconnecting the uprights 43 and rigidly holding them into place for additional support of chain-link fence 12. Also shown in FIG. 4 is the lowermost portion of skirt 50, which is held in sealing engagement with a rigid support member 68, such as a galvanized strip, extending around the periphery of the court area and connected to the cement footing 62 by cement bolt 70.

The lowermost end of skirt 50 is held in place by a continuous channel 66 in the same manner as continuous channel 56 shown in FIG. 3. In this connection, it should be noted that skirt 50 can be configured to follow the innermost surface of cantilevered upright supports 20 and the existing chain-link fence 12, so as to take up less space in the area immediately adjacent the ground area, and as is shown in FIG. 3. This can be done in any well known manner by merely tacking skirt 50 against the surface of upright 20 and the existing fence 12.

FIG. 5 shows a prospective view of the arrangement in FIG. 4, with the indication of skirt 50 in FIG. 5 being of a material which is transparent or translucent so as to afford additional light to the area being sheltered, in accordance herewith.

As was discussed above, the area immediately adjacent the ground around the periphery of the defined area between the existing fence or wall is not utilized for the construction, in accordance herewith, except for the extent of space 78 as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, around the periphery of the area being covered, substantially no usable space is being used up to the height of the existing fence or wall and generally within the range of 8-10 feet. In addition, because of the cantilevered arrangement of upright supporting arms 20 and the fact that the lowermost extent of bubble 32 does not begin until the area of tensioning ring 22, the vertical component of the curvature of the bubble 32 does not begin until some 12-15 feet above ground around the periphery of the area being protected. The arrangement, in accordance herewith, therefore, does not interfere with the usual activities which may be carried on around the peripheral area of such recreational activities as a swimming pool or tennis court, thus enabling these areas to be utilized for spectators, chairs, equipment and the like, as such facilities would have as standard outdoor facilities.

Also, with the arrangement, in accordance herewith, utilizing as the supporting structure for the air supported bubble 32 hollow piping, the interior of the piping may be utilized as raceways for lighting arrangements described above. Thus, bores may be drilled into selected ones of end brackets 46 and 53 of upright supporting arms 20 as well as certain adjacent connecting areas of tensioning ring 22 in order to run wiring through arms 20 and the tensioning ring 22 as well as the cross-members 24 and 26, in order to carry current to light standards disposed along cross-supports 24 and 26, and along the end portions of tensioning ring 22 for providing appropriate lighting of the sheltered area during night time hours. It should be understood, further, because of the initial height of tensioning ring 22, that the cross supports 24 and 26 will be at a height not interfering with the passage of people from one area of the sheltered area to another. The light standards for use, in accordance herewith, have not been shown in detail because they do not form a portion of the invention described and claimed herein. However,

these standards may be in the usual form utilized for facilities similar to those described herein, and usually, such light standards are of a curved configuration, so that the uppermost portion of them present a curved nonsharp surface. In case an emergency situation should arise and the air bubble should collapse, it will not be punctured by any sharp unstanding light standards.

Accordingly, and as will be apparent from the foregoing, there are provided in accordance herewith, methods and arrangements of apparatus for enclosing existing outdoor areas defined by a fence, wall, or the like, by the utilization of an air supported covering which covering is supported by the existing fence or wall in a manner eliminating the need for additional space over and above that already defined by that existing fence or wall, and in a manner eliminating the need for any substantial reduction in the amount of usable space within the defined area. In addition, the arrangement herein provides for simultaneously utilizing the base support for the air shelter arrangement, in accordance herewith, for a raceway for the wiring for the lighting of the area.

Moreover, because of the lack of need for additional area for the structures, in accordance herewith, the arrangements herein are highly advantageous commercially because they can be used in existing facilities in high population concentration areas where space is at a premium.

While the methods and apparatus herein disclosed form preferred embodiments of this invention, this invention is not limited to those specific methods and apparatus, and changes can be made therein without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. Apparatus for covering an existing defined area for the protection thereof from the weather, said defined area having a fence or wall around the periphery thereof and having a source of compressed air, the combination which comprises a plurality of spaced-apart uprights pivotally disposed on said wall or fence, said uprights being disposed in cantilevered fashion from the vertical plane of said existing wall or fence toward said defined area, a circumferentially extending tension ring disposed along the uppermost point of said plurality of uprights, an air-supported roof structure with the lowermost extent thereof being connected in air sealing engagement along said tensioning ring and being supported by said source, and a circumferentially extending skirt disposed along said fence or wall with the uppermost extent thereof being in air sealing engagement with said tension ring.

2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, which also includes a plurality of cross-members extending in spaced-apart parallel relation to each other and affixed at diametrically opposed sides of said tensionring.

3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which said uprights, said tension ring and said cross-members are hollow for providing raceways for electrical wiring therethrough.

4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which said uprights, said tension ring and said cross-members are comprised of 3 k inch steel pipe.

5. Apparatus as recited in claim, 1, in which said uprights and said tension ring are hollow for providing raceways for electrical wiring therethrough.

6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said skirt is resin coated canvas.

7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said air bubble and said flap are held in place by a circum ferentially extending channel clip bolted to said tension ring. 

1. Apparatus for covering an existing defined area for the protection thereof from the weather, said defined area having a fence or wall around the periphery thereof and having a source of compressed air, the combination which comprises a plurality of spaced-apart uprights pivotally disposed on said wall or fence, said uprights being disposed in cantilevered fashion from the vertical plane of said existing wall or fence toward said defined area, a circumferentially extending tension ring disposed along the uppermost point of said plurality of uprights, an airsupported roof structure with the lowermost extent thereof being connected in air sealing engagement along said tensioning ring and being supported by said source, and a circumferentially extending skirt disposed along said fence or wall with the uppermost extent thereof being in air sealing engagement with said tension ring.
 2. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, which also includes a plurality of cross-members extending in spaced-apart parallel relation to each other and affixed at diametrically opposed sides of said tension ring.
 3. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which said uprights, said tension ring and said cross-members are hollow for providing raceways for electrical wiring therethrough.
 4. Apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which said uprights, said tension ring and said cross-members are comprised of 3 1/2 inch steel pipe.
 5. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said uprights and said tension ring are hollow for providing raceways for electrical wiring therethrough.
 6. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said skirt is resin coated canvas.
 7. Apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said air bubble and said flap are held in place by a circumferentially extending channel clip bolted to said tension ring. 